Families Will Have More Time to Utilize Federal Foreclosure Prevention Program

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to protect Illinois homeowners by preventing a lender from selling a home while the homeowner is applying for a federal mortgage assistance program. This legislation is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to protecting Illinois families and helping them fight foreclosure.

"Illinois families must have access to the tools they need to protect their home," Governor Quinn said. "More than one million families have received help through the Illinois Foreclosure Prevention Network, and we want to make sure even more homeowners can remain home for the holidays and the long term."

Sponsored by State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-Chicago) and State Representative Michael J. Zalewski (D-Riverside), Senate Bill 1045 extends a current law that enables families who have applied for a loan modification under the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) to stop the lender or servicer from selling their home.

In 2009, the Obama Administration worked with financial institutions to create HAMP - which allows qualified homeowners to modify mortgage payments to 31 percent of their income. The program lowers monthly mortgage payments to make them more affordable and sustainable.

The Governor signed a law in 2010 that allows homeowners to move to block a judicial sale when they can prove that they applied for a HAMP modification but the property was sold in violation of the program's terms. Today's action extends Illinois law to match the federal HAMP deadline of Dec. 31, 2015 - providing homeowners with more time to save their home from foreclosure. The new law takes effect immediately.

This law furthers the impact of the Governor's Illinois Foreclosure Prevention Network (IFPN)  ?  a free, one-stop resource to connect homeowners with important tools, including access to counseling services, legal advice, federal mortgage assistance programs, foreclosure prevention events and tips on how to avoid mortgage fraud.

Through the IFPN, families facing financial hardship can access HAMP to apply for a loan modification. In Illinois, approximately 47,000 Illinois families have received permanent loan modifications through HAMP that enable them to stay in their home.

"Governor Quinn understands that linking homeowners with crucial assistance stabilizes communities by preventing foreclosures before they happen," Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Executive Director Mary R. Kenney said. "The median monthly savings for Illinois homeowners in active permanent mortgage modifications under HAMP is about $570 - and now more families statewide can apply for lower monthly payments."

Governor Quinn has been a leader on affordable housing in Illinois and made a historic commitment of $130 million in state capital funds to create more affordable housing opportunities. The Governor has also worked to spur affordable housing homeownership and multifamily rental development by proclaiming 2013 as the Year of Homeownership and launching four new safe and affordable mortgage programs since 2011. Also, affordable housing opportunities have increased. Since 2009, 10,300 working families have been able to purchase a home affordably, and 18,300 affordable rental units were created or preserved. In 2012, IHDA helped more than 2,700 working families access $308 million in capital to purchase a home. This represents an 80 percent increase over production in 2011 and a 770 percent increase over 2010.

Illinois residents who are having trouble paying their mortgage, facing foreclosure or know someone who is should reach out to IFPN as soon as possible by visiting www.keepyourhomeillinois.org or by calling the IFPN hotline at 1-855-KEEP-411.

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(DES MOIES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad has co-written a bipartisan governors' letter urging President Obama and Congress to make forward progress on three trade agreements that have great potential to open up foreign markets to U.S. exports and to encourage further investment in the U.S.

The letter is joined by a bipartisan group of governors because state leaders understand the importance of opening up foreign markets to empower American businesses, workers, and agricultural producers to effectively compete in a dynamic, global economy.

"With an increasingly competitive global economy, it is important for President Obama and Congress to break-down barriers to international trade," said Branstad. "Trade helps drive economic growth through high-paying jobs for American workers and increased opportunities for American businesses and agricultural producers."

"Governor Branstad and I understand the importance of these trade agreements to Iowa businesses," said Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. "Iowa has many innovative companies and agricultural producers that depend on foreign markets for their long-term success and international buyers recognize Iowa as a provider of world-class, high-quality products."

Iowa's economic growth is closely linked to international trade and the State's job and income growth goals:

  • In 2012, Iowa exported over $14.6 billion worth of goods to countries around the world.
  • From 2011 to 2012, Iowa exports grew by almost 10%, compared to national export growth of just 4.5%.
  • More than 2,500 companies in Iowa export products around the world.
  • Iowa's farmers and agribusinesses rely on international trading agreements to open the door for Iowa's grain and meat products.
  • Based on U.S. Department of Commerce estimates and export statistics, Iowa's exporting companies supported approximately 73,000 jobs in 2012.

*Statistics Reference:  www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/newsdetails/5654

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey voiced his support for trade progress stating, "Iowa agriculture has seen tremendous benefits from free trade and there is potential for even more growth if these trade agreements are finalized.  Our farmers do an amazing job producing safe, affordable food and what they need is fair access to additional markets."

Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, stated the following: "International trade helps grow the Iowa and U.S. economy.  The recent bipartisan agreement between congressional committee leaders on Trade Promotion Authority is a positive step for removing governmental hurdles to private sector trade.  Movement on these trade agreements would help enable Iowa's agricultural producers and manufacturers to compete on a level playing field."

Teresa Wahlert, Director of Iowa Workforce Development added:  "We also encourage the Federal government to empower the states with flexible workforce programs, including support for innovative programs like the Skilled Iowa Initiative, to ensure American workers have the skills needed to compete globally."

The below 15 governors signed the letter:

State/Territory 

Governor's Name 


Alabama

Gov. Robert Bentley (R)


Arkansas

Gov. Mike Beebe (D)


Florida

Gov. Rick Scott (R)

 

Indiana

Gov. Mike Pence (R)


Iowa

Gov. Terry Branstad (R)


Kansas

Gov. Sam Brownback (R)


Mississippi

Gov. Phil Bryant (R)


Nebraska

Gov. Dave Heineman (R)


Nevada

Gov. Brian Sandoval (R)


New Mexico

Gov. Susana Martinez (R)

 

Northern Mariana Islands

Gov. Eloy Inos (I)

 

Oklahoma

Gov. Mary Fallin (R)


Pennsylvania

Gov. Tom Corbett (R)

 

Rhode Island

Gov. Lincoln Chafee (D)

 

Utah

Gov. Gary Richard Herbert (R)


The full text of the letter can be read below:

Dear Mr. President, Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Boehner, Minority Leader McConnell, and Minority Leader Pelosi:

As chief executives of their states and territories, governors have a unique perspective regarding the importance of international trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) on our respective economies.  Governors are actively promoting our businesses globally because over ninety five percent of the world's consumers live outside the United States.  We also recognize that FDI creates high paying jobs in our states that support lasting careers in our own communities.  Following the strong bi-partisan support for trade in recent years, we ask you to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), and the Trade in Services (TISA) agreements, which have great potential to help our country compete in a dynamic, global economy.

These robust international trade agreements will enhance and expand economic partnerships and diplomatic relationships between the United States and participating countries.  Reductions in trade barriers and increased market access allows our businesses, workforce, agricultural producers, and service sectors to compete on a more level playing field to help drive economic growth and increase family incomes.  We are encouraged by the comprehensive nature of these agreements, but we do want to underscore that the primary purpose of the agreements should be to increase market access, including improved access for US agricultural and manufactured goods abroad, while establishing ambitious rules to protect intellectual property, empower American workers, ensure fair competition with state-owned enterprises, and foster the digital economy.

We believe that the national and global economy can grow at a more robust pace and that trade liberalization will be a key component of that future growth.  Enacting comprehensive agreements improves the economic standing of all parties.  International trade is not a zero sum game and regulatory cooperation, done properly, can improve the efficiency of our regulatory agencies.

As governors, we strive to create a healthy economic environment in which our citizens can thrive.  We strongly favor the continued pursuit of comprehensive trade agreements with TPP, T-TIP, and TISA countries that focus on market access and establishing rules and disciplines that address emerging challenges to the global trade system.  We encourage forward progress on these trade initiatives to enable our citizens to compete fairly in the world market.

We stand ready to support efforts to educate and inform our friends and allies on these promising agreements.

For more information please visit www.governor.iowa.gov.

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o most limited government conservatives and liberty-minded activists Washington DC seems like Bizarro-World. Never ceasing to disappoint, DC proved again that common sense isn't so common with the latest budget deal that expanded spending in many sequester areas. Illinois' entire Republican caucus went along with the Ryan/Murray compromise except one. Our Junior US Senator Mark Kirk cast the lone Nay vote for fiscal restraint. Dare we ask, is Senator Mark Kirk now the most conservative representative from Illinois? The Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois wants to welcome US Senator Mark Kirk to the principled wing of the Republican Party!

Senator Kirk ran on a platform describing himself as fiscally conservative and socially moderate. The budget compromise can hardly be called fiscally conservative, so Kirk's stand should be celebrated. As committed activists within the party, we can only hope that other Illinois Republicans gain the courage to tackle tough issues like this.

"I sincerely believe activists need to punish bad political behavior and reward good political behavior. In Wednesday's vote, I'm encouraged that US Senator Mark Kirk is committed to steering our country and budget out of a fiscal ditch," said Allen Skillicorn, Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois.

For more information about liberty leaning activism and the Republican Liberty Caucus, please see www.rlcil.com.

This week the Senate passed a budget bill.  While I appreciate the bipartisan effort that brokered this budget deal, and I am relieved that it will help avoid another government shutdown, I could not support the proposal and voted against it.

The spending caps that Congress and President Obama put in place two years ago have worked.  I'm not sure why we need to move away from that.  To get our fiscal house in order, we should at least abide by the spending caps put in place in August 2011.  The spending reductions called for in 2011 were agreed to as part of the deal to provide a $2.1 trillion increase in the nation's debt ceiling.

The budget bill approved this week allows for an additional $63 billion in government spending over the next two years when we have a $17 trillion debt.  To offset that higher spending, it raises revenue over ten years but spends that money in the first two years.  It raises fees on air travelers and corporate pension premiums and reduces retirement benefits for military retirees to offset unrelated spending.  Nearly all of the meager spending cuts come way down the road, in 2022 and 2023.

Congress has a spending problem, not a revenue problem, and this budget deal only emphasizes that.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Video can be found here.

Burton, WA - Unforgettable Fire, LLC announced today that The Country Store in Clarion, Iowa has been chosen as the first dealership in Iowa to debut the American-made Kimberly™ and Katydid™ gasifier wood stoves. Inventor Roger Lehet states, "We chose The Country Store because it is known for exceptional customer service and can-do attitude. Owner, Rick Titus, has 38 years experience in the industry."

Because of its exceptionally clean burning and efficient performance, the Kimberly™ wood stove was one of only 12 finalists from 261 international entries to compete in the Wood Stove Decathlon, sponsored in part by Popular Mechanics magazine. The first event of its kind, the Wood Stove Decathlon was held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and attended by many members of Congress.

Although the Kimberly™ gasifier wood stove was originally designed for use on a boat, it soon found a niche in other tight spaces, such as hunting cabins and RV's, due to Kimberly's small size and portability.  Tiny, but mighty, the EPA-certified Kimberly™ wood stove can heat up to 1500 square feet of well-insulated space, and is the darling of many smaller homes. The Katydid™ wood stove, however, was specifically engineered to heat larger homes, up to 3000 square feet of well-insulated space, even in Iowa's sub-zero temperatures.

The gasifier combustion system found in the Kimberly™ and the Katydid™ wood stoves will squeeze every possible BTU from cordwood fuel, keeping families warm through the night with less cost, less labor, and less emissions than other wood stove choices.  With rising costs for propane and natural gas, that comes as good news for Iowa families looking to lower their heating costs.

Both wood stoves use a unique venting system, thereby saving Iowa families hundreds of additional dollars in installation costs over other wood stove choices.

Iowa residents concerned about losing electricity during winter storms will be excited to learn about optional add-on accessories (currently in prototype and coming soon). Accessories will include two thermo-electric generators, a 12-volt convection fan to assist in heat circulation, a baking oven, and a hot water coil system suitable for in-floor heating.

For more information about the The Country Store in Clarion, Iowa, visit www.FireplacesAtTheCountryStore.com or call 515-532-3881 or 515-293-2445.

Unforgettable Fire, LLC Roger Lehet P.O. Box 13491, Burton, WA 98013 Phone: (206)850-2322 Website: http://www.unforgettablefirellc.com
(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today approved an emergency declaration suspending the regulatory provisions pertaining to hours of service for drivers of commercial motor vehicles transporting propane. The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, December 19th, 2013 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, January 2nd, 2014.

The proclamation is as follows:

WHEREAS, because of the late harvest and the recent high demand for petroleum products throughout the upper Midwest portions of the United States, the people of the State of Iowa are faced with extremely low supplies of propane; and

WHEREAS, adequate supplies of propane are necessary to provide residential and agricultural heating to our citizens in rural portions of the state; and

WHEREAS, the effects of this propane shortage are being felt throughout the State of Iowa; and

WHEREAS, the limited suspension of certain hours of service regulations for drivers of commercial motor vehicles transporting propane in our state will increase the amount of propane transported throughout the State of Iowa, thereby reducing the potentially damaging effects of this shortage; and

WHEREAS, these conditions threaten the peace, health, and safety of the citizens of the State of Iowa and its agricultural industry and accordingly provide legal justification for the issuance of a Proclamation of a State of Disaster Emergency pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(1).

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TERRY E. BRANSTAD, Governor of the State of Iowa, by the power and authority vested in me by the Iowa Constitution Art. IV, §§ 1, 8 and Iowa Code § 29C.6(1), and all other applicable laws, do hereby proclaim a STATE OF DISASTER EMERGENCY for the entire state of Iowa and do hereby ORDER and DIRECT the following:

SECTION ONE.  I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code § 321.449 pertaining to hours of service for drivers of commercial motor vehicles transporting propane, during the duration of this disaster, subject to these conditions:

A.      Nothing contained in this Proclamation shall be construed as an exemption from the controlled substances and alcohol use and testing requirements under 49 CFR Part 382, the commercial drivers' license requirements under 49 CFR Part 383, the financial responsibility requirements of 49 CFR Part 387, or any other portion of the Code of Federal Regulations not specifically identified in this proclamation.

B.      No motor carrier operating under the terms of this proclamation shall require or allow a fatigued or ill driver to operate a motor vehicle. A driver who informs a carrier that he or she needs immediate rest shall be given at least ten consecutive hours off duty before the driver is required to return to service.

C.      Upon the request of a driver, a commercial motor carrier operating under this proclamation must give a driver at least thirty-four (34) consecutive hours off when the driver has been on duty for more than seventy (70) hours during any eight consecutive days.

D.      Motor carriers that have an out-of-service order in effect may not take advantage of the relief from regulations that this declaration provides under title 49 CFR § 390.23.

E.      Upon the expiration of the effective date of this Proclamation, or when a driver has been relieved of all duty and responsibility to provide direct assistance to the emergency effort, a driver that has had at least thirty-four (34) consecutive hours off duty shall be permitted to start his or her on-duty status hours and 60/70 hour clock at zero.

SECTION TWO.  This state of disaster emergency shall be effective at 12:01 a.m. on December 19th, 2013, shall continue fifteen (15) days, and shall expire on January 2nd, 2014 at 11:59 p.m., unless sooner terminated or extended in writing by me.


IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal of the State of Iowa to be affixed at Des Moines, Iowa this 18th day of December in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen.


______________________________
__
TERRY E. BRANSTAD
GOVERNOR


ATTEST:


____________________________
MATT SCHULTZ
SECRETARY OF STATE

Governor's Proposal Would Increase Minimum Wage from $8.25 to at least $10

CHICAGO - Just one week before Christmas, Governor Pat Quinn today visited Chicago's historic St. Pius V Church to continue his ongoing fight to raise Illinois' minimum wage from $8.25 to at least $10. The Governor first proposed raising the minimum wage in his 2013 State of the State address and today's visit is part of his agenda to alleviate poverty, drive economic growth and ensure that all workers are treated fairly.

"No one should work 40 hours a week and live in poverty," Governor Quinn said. "This holiday season, it's important to remember the hundreds of thousands of people across Illinois who are working full time but still trapped in poverty. As multiple studies have shown, this common-sense proposal is good for workers and the economy."

Today's event was held at the historic St. Pius Parish, which was founded in 1874 and is an important part of the Pilsen community, offering education, counseling and other tools to brighten the futures of those who want to work.

A full-time minimum wage worker in Illinois makes around $16,600 annually, which is well below the Federal Poverty Threshold of $17,916 for a family of three. The Governor supports raising the minimum wage to at least $10, and then tying raises in the minimum wage to the cost of living thereafter. This would ensure that the value of the worker's wage will not decrease with respect to inflation.

The Illinois minimum wage ($8.25) - which hasn't been increased since 2010 - is less than half of the average U.S. hourly wage. By increasing the Illinois minimum wage to $10, a half-million Illinois consumers will make an extra $4,800 a year and much of that extra income will typically be spent at local businesses on food, clothing and furniture, providing a strong boost to the local economy.

In addition, studies conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago show that an increase of $1 in the minimum wage generates approximately $3,000 in household spending per year, greatly improving purchasing power and strengthening our economy. Nearly two-thirds of small business owners support raising the federal minimum wage because they believe it will help the economy and, in turn, enable them to hire more workers, according to a poll conducted by the Small Business Majority. Leaders from large companies such as Costco, Starbucks and Stride Rite also have supported increasing the minimum wage as a way to reduce employee turnover and improve workers' productivity.

Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia have raised their minimum wages higher than $7.25 per hour, which is the current federal floor. Two more states will increase their minimum wages effective January 1. In addition, President Barack Obama has said that "it's well past the time" to raise the federal minimum wage.

In August, Governor Quinn signed three laws that fight questionable practices in order to protect Illinois workers' paychecks. House Bill 2649, House Bill 923 and House Bill 3125 deal with the misclassification of workers and the attempts of employers to avoid paying state employment taxes and premiums.

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CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today released the below statement on the Archer Daniels Midland Company's (ADM) decision to establish a new world headquarters in Chicago. The Governor spoke with Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz several times in recent days:

"ADM's decision to establish a world headquarters in Chicago is great news for Illinois and our economy.

"I spoke with ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz several times over the past week and made clear that there is no better place to do business than Illinois.

"ADM's long-term commitment to Chicago, Decatur and our entire state demonstrates its own faith in its future here.

"I have enjoyed working with ADM for more than a decade. I look forward to continued partnership as this dynamic company invests and grows in Illinois."

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History Publishing Company to Publish Book on National Decline

Reversing America's Decline Has Special Message for college and university students

Neal Herrick's new book, Reversing America's Decline: Jefferson's Approach, calls on college and university students   to ignite a movement aimed at reforming our federal government. "Just as the courage, idealism and energy of students in the early 1960's re-energized the civil rights movement," Herrick writes, "the students of today could ignite a movement to reverse America's decline

Neal  Herrick's forthcoming book calls on rank-and-file Republicans and Democrats to join together in pursuing a specific, politically feasible strategy for reforming the federal government. He outlines the strategy in his forthcoming book.

This book from History Publishing Company addresses   America's major problem: its political, economic and moral decline. This decline, according to Reversing America's Decline, is not part of an inevitable cycle. It has specific causes and those causes have specific remedies. To apply these remedies, a major overhaul of our governmental structure is required the author holds. Herrick reaches back to the Founding Fathers, Jefferson specifically, to point the way clearly  defined  in the Federalist Papers, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence and shows the way to a  reformation sorely needed to  halt  America's decline.

Reversing America's Decline: Jefferson's Approach will be published January 14, 2014 and will be in Barnes and Noble bookstores, Amazon, BN.com and other fine book stores.

Contact: Don Bracken, djb@historypublishingco.com, (Tel) 845-398-8161

The Vaporosity Shop has opened its doors at 3009 - 14th Ave in Rock Island.  Hours are Monday thru Friday 11am until 8pm, Saturday from 11am until 6pm and Sunday from 12 Noon until 3pm.

The Vaporosity Shop sells e-cigarettes and offers dozens of flavor choices.  E-cigars available, too.

Check us out on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Vaporosity-Shop-Rock-Island/1432024953676590

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